Exploring Attainment of Level 4 (Near-Native) Proficiency

 


So, what pushes someone to reach near-native proficiency in a foreign language? There is little quantitative research out there except for a study undertaken by Leaver and Atwell (published in Developing Professional Level Language Proficiency by Cambridge University Press) and Al-Khanji, Jasser, and Leaver (a research project funded by the CCCC of the National Association of Teachers of English). Both had an n in excess of 100.

The numbers from these numbers show that often the push for near-native comes from a need for higher proficiency for the job (the highest push; consider it instrumental motivation) or from an interpersonal need (in-laws, spouse from the foreign country). Lesser numbers show an internal desire (call it intrinsic motivation), often associated with the trait of tenacity.

Individual experiences tell more of the story, not only about the why (motivation) but also about the how of reaching higher levels (learning actions and strategies). Some of these individual stories can be found in the pages of the Journal for Distinguished Language Studies, which starts each issue with an in-depth personal experience by someone who has achieved near-native levels of proficiency. One thing is clear: different people take different paths, and happenstance also plays a role -- the opportunity to work or study abroad. Sometimes, being abroad and the need to find good work, which requires erudition in the foreign language.

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We have available for individual purchase each of the feature articles from issue 8 of the journal at a very accessible price and will make the feature articles available from other issues as time goes on. Check our webstore to see what we have at any given time. We will announce and link each of these individually in upcoming blog posts.

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Also, don't believe Amazon's listing of previous issues of The Journal for Distinguished Language Studies as out of print. It is very much in print and available at the MSI Press webstore. Subscription service available as noted above, and issues 1-6 are on sale for $5 each!

Amazon is selling issues 7 and 8.

For more posts about the JDLS, click HERE.

If you have a post to contribute to the Thursday high-level-language-proficiency topic, we would love to see it. Please send it to editor@msipress.com.


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